Knitted elastic cotton garments and method of forming the same



May 12, 1964 v. H. GARROU KNITTED ELASTIC May 12, 1964 v GARRQU 3,132,497

KNITTED ELASTIC COTTON GARMENTS AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME Filed June 6, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NV NTOR. hcToR AREOU 4770 AWE ,5

May 12, 1964 v, GARROU 3,132,497

KNITTED ELASTIC COTTON GARMENTS AND METHOD 0F FORMING THE SAME Filed June 6, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR I VlCTOR H. GARRQU A RNEYS United States Patent 3,132,497 KNIT'IED ELASTIC COTTON GARMENTS AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME Victor H. Garrou, Valdese, N.C., assignor to Pilot Research Corporation, Valdese, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed June 6, 1963, Ser. No. 286,011 20 Claims. (Cl. 66-202) This invention relates generally to knitted elastic garments and a method of forming the same and more particularly to garments that are knit of cellulosic yarn, such as cotton, the knit garments having substantially elastic properties which make them adaptable to fit a wide range of body sizes.

Although garments which are knit of cotton yarn normally have a greater amount of stretchability than garments which are formed of woven cotton yarn, conventional types of knitted cotton garments do not have enough stretchability to fit a wide range of body sizes and the knitted cotton garments of the ordinary type do not have the ability to quickly return after stretching.

The need for knitted elastic garments has long been recognized, however, all known successful attempts to produce an elastic knitted garment have included the use of synthetic yarn which has been texturized and heat-set to render it elastic. In one type of knitted elastic garment, the synthetic yarn, such as nylon, is crimped or curled and then heat-set by one of several well-known methods. Highly twisted synthetic yarns have also been successfully used to form knitted elastic garments, particularly hosiery. Elasticity is obtained in this type of garment because the highly twisted or lively yarns cause the knit stitches to distort and after the stitches are heatset in this distorted condition, they have a strong tendency to return to their distorted condition after the garment has been stretched.

Knit garments having elastic properties have also been formed of composite yarns in which cotton fibers are blended with a stretchable core yarn which is formed of a texturized and heat-set synthetic yarn. This type of composite yarn usually has a small percentage of cotton fibers and all of the elasticity is obtained from the stretchable synthetic core yarn.

All of these prior types of knitted elastic garments have been widely accepted because they will fit a wide range of body sizes, they easily conform to the body of the wearer and they permit freedom of movement by the wearer. However, since these prior types of elastic garments have been knit of synthetic yarns, they do not have the comfortable feel and absorptive quality of garments which are knit entirely of cotton yarns, nor do they have the appearance of a conventional non-elastic knitted cotton garment.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide knitted elastic garments which are knit of cotton yarn and which have suflicient elastic properties to conform to the configuration of those portions of the body on which the garments are to be Worn and which also have the appearance of the comfortable feel and absorptive quality of conventional nonelastic garments made entirely of cotton yarn.

It is another object of the present invention to pro vide knitted elastic cotton garments of the type described and a method of forming the same which does not require the purchase of new machinery and which may be economically carried out on existing knitting machinery without any expensive modification thereof and without any special training on the part of the operators.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide knitted elastic cotton garments of the type described which are shaped or fashioned during the knitting operation but which are knit larger than their normal size or oversize and then the garments are treated with a swelling and shrinking solution to reduce them to the final desired size and obtain cotton garments which have sufficient elastic properties to fit several body sizes.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a method of forming knitted elastic cotton garments which includes knitting the garments oversize by forming very large loose or elongated stitch loops from a cotton yarn, then treating the garments in a solution of caustic soda without any tension on the garments to swell and shrink the cotton yarn and to reduce the size of the garment to its normal size, washing the garments to remove the caustic soda solution, and then finishing the garments in the usual manner, such as dyeing and boardmg.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which-- FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a stocking of the halfhose type which has been knit oversize with very loose or greatly elongated stitch loops, the normal toe opening having been closed by a suitable seam;

FIGURE 2 is a greatly enlarged view of the knit stitch loops in the area of the foot enclosed by the circle indicated at 2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrating the reduction in size of the half hose after it has been subjected to the caustic treatment;

FIGURE 4 is a greatly enlarged view of the knit stitch loops in the area enclosed by the circle indicated at 4 in FIGURE 3 and illustrating the swelling of the yarn and the reduction in size of the stitch loops after the halfhose has been subjected to the caustic treatment;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevation of a full-fashioned ladies panty which has been knit oversize with very loose or greatly elongated stitch loops;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 to illustrate the reduction in size of the panty after it has been subjected to the caustic treatment;

FIGURE 7 is a front elevation of a ladies seamless girdle which has been knit oversize with very loose or greatly elongated stitch loops; and

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 to illustrate the reduction in size of the ladies seamless girdle after it has been subjected to the caustic treatment.

Generally, the present knitted elastic cotton garments are shaped to the desired configuration during the knitting operation, however, the garments are formed of very loose or greatly elongated stitch loops to form an oversized garment. After knitting, the garments have an unfinished appearance and the stitch loops are so large that it is not acceptable as a practical garment to be worn in this state. During the knitting operation the stitch loops are formed approximately 25 to 60% longer than normal so that the garments will be approximately 25 to 65% larger than the desired size when the garments are ready for wear.

The oversize garment is then placed in an untensioned condition in a solution of caustic soda to swell the cotton yarn and shrink the garment to thereby reduce the overall size of the garment. Since the caustic treatment causes the cotton yarn to swell and shrink, the stitch loops are also reduced in size and the yarns increase in diameter to make the knit fabric much more dense or compact. Then, the garment is washed to remove the caustic solution and the garment may be finished by dyeing and boarding, when necessary.

The finished garment is stretchable in both the walewise and coursewise directions, and it has sufiicient elastic properties that it will immediately return to substantially its original unstretched dimension. This feature makes the garments highly desirable since they easily conform to the body of the wearer and permit freedom of movement by the wearer while retaining the comfortable feel and absorptive quality of garments made entirely of cotton. Although the invention is generally directed to knitted cotton garments of the type which are shaped during the knitting operation and normally worn next to the body, such as hosiery, ladies full-fashioned panties, ladies seamless girdles, brassieres, bathing suits, and the like, it is not intended to be limited to these particular garments.

The invention will be described in detail, as applied to the manufacture of hosiery (FIGURES l4), fullfashioned panties (FIGURES 5 and 6), and seamless girdles (FIGURES 7 and 8). Each of these garments will be specifically described in the followng examples, which are intended to illustrate the invention without limiting the same in any way to the particular examples described.

Example I Referring particularly to FIGURES 1-4, there is shown a mans half-hose 10 which has been knit on a Komet type circular knitting machine having a 3% inch needle cylinder and 132 needles. As is well known, this type of knitting machine has axially alined upper and lower needle cylinders and double-ended latch needles which may be selectively operated in either of the cylinders to produce both plain and rib fabrics. The half-hose 10 is knit from the top to the toe in the conventional manner'except that the needles are drawn to a greater than normal depth to form very loose stitches and an oversized stocking.

Two ends of 30/1 Supima cotton yarn having a standard soft knitting twist of 14 /2 turns per inch are fed to the needles through the same yarn feeder finger while a covered strand of rubber yarn is also fed to the needles to form a conventional make-up at the upper edge of the top or cuff 11. A few courses, are then knit in what may be termed a one-by-one rib arrangement with the covered rubber yarn inlaid in every other course of the fabric and the remaining courses of the cuff 11 are formed by knitting a two-by-two rib pattern while continuing to inlay the covered rubber yarn in every other course. To form the two-by-two rib fabric, alternate pairs of adja cent needles operate in the lower cylinder and intervening pairs of adjacent needles operate in the upper cylinder.

When the knitting of the leg portion 12 is begun, the covered rubber'yarn is removed and a different rib pattern is formed. In the present instance, a nine-by-four rib pattern is formed with the plain rib extending up the back of the leg of the stocking containing eleven wales to account for the 132 needles in the cylinder.

Upon completion of the desired length of leg 12, the

yarn feed fingers are changed to knit the heel pocket 13. In the heel pocket I3, three ends of 30/1 Supimacotton yarn are fed to the needles in plated relationship with a reinforcing yarn which is added in the heel to enhance the wear of hte hose and, in this particular instance, a 40 denier nylon filament yarn is fed to the needles along with the cotton body yarn. The heel pocket is knit in a conventional manner by first knitting on approximately half of the needles while reciprocating the needle cylinder in a narrowing operation and then in a widening operation to form the usual narrowed and widened gussets of the heel pocket. Upon completion of the heel pocket 13, the nylon reinforclng yarn is removed and the two ends of 30/1 Supima cotton yarn are again fed to all the needles while the needle cylinder is rotated to knit the foot 14. It will be noted that the sole or lower portion of the foot 14a is plain while the upper or instep portion 14b includes the nine-byfour rib pattern.

Upon completion of the foot portion 14, the toe pocket 15 1s formed with reciprocation of the needle cylinder in the conventional manner to form the usual narrowed and widened gussets. The toe 15 is knit with the 40 denier nylon filament yarn and the three ends of 30/1 Supima cotton yarn again being fed to the needles in plated relationship. When the knitting of the stocking is completed, the thus formed stocking blank usually has an opening extending across the upper part of the foot and a suitable number of loopers rounds, not shown. The loopers rounds are removed during the closing of the toe of the stocking blank by either a sewing or looping operation to form a toe closure seam, indicated at 16 in FiGURE 1.

After completion of the knitting and the closing of the toe pocket, the stockings are then placed in a solution containing 16% caustic soda (NaOH) for ten minutes. the caustic solution is preferably at room temperature and the stockings are not under any tension while being treated. The caustic soda solution may be agitated during the treatment period to insure uniform treatment. After the shrinking and swelling of the stockings in the caustic soda solution, they are washed until all of the caustic soda solution is removed and then the stockings may be dyed to the desired shade or color.

It is preferred that the stockings be knit in two sizes which may be termed small and large and these two sizes will fit men that wear sizes 10 through 13. The small size stockings are boarded on a size 9 /2 boarding form and the large size stockings are boarded on a size 11 boarding form. Thus, the stockings are stretched only a small amount on the boarding form so that the heat applied during the boarding operation will not affect the stretchability and high degree of recoverability in the finished stockings. At present, the stockings are finished on a boarding machine of the type which has flat forms that move through a heating chamber and the stockings are automatically stripped from the forms as they come out of the heating chamber. Before the stockings pass into the heating chamber, they are moistened'by a spraying device and the heating chamber is maintained at a higher than normal temperature. Conventional knitting stockings are usually boarded on this type machine at about 210 F. and the present elastic stockings are boarded at about 300 F.

After the stockings are boarded, they have sufficient stretch to comfortably fit several foot sizes. For example, the small size stockings will fit foot sizes 9 /2 through 11 and the large size stockings will fit foot sizes 11 through 13. The manner in which the yarn swells and shrinks and the manner in which the stitch loops are reduced is best shown in FIGURES 2 and 4. Since the yarn itself swells and shrinks, the stitch loops are re duced in both coursewise and walewise directions with a slightly greater amount'of reduction occurring in the walewise direction.

The amount of shrinkage and stretchability of the knit stockings are subject to variations in the construction of the stockings, the strength of the caustic soda solution, the temperature of the caustic soda solution, the amount of twist in the yarns, the construction of the yarns, etc. However, it has been found that when the stockings are knit and subjected to the caustic soda solution in the manner set forth above, the stockings should be initially knit about'60% larger than the desired finished size and they will stretch on the order of 45% after they are finished.

Example 11 Referring particularly to FIGURES 5 and 6, there is shown a ladies full-fashioned panty which is knit of cotton yarn and in generally the manner disclosed in the United States patent to Garrou et al., No. 2,796,389, and issued April 19, 1955. As pointed out in said Garrou et a1. patent, the full-fashioned panty blank is knit on a full-fashioned knitting machine and is suitably fashioned during knitting so that when the fashioned front and rear panels 21 and 22 are joined together by side seams 23 and 24, the leg openings 25 and 26 are formed and the panty generally conforms to that portion of the body on which it is to be worn.

The panty blank is knit throughout of a /1 Supima cotton yarn having the standard soft knitting twist and it is fashioned during the knitting operation in the same general manner as that set forth in the said Garrou et 211. patent. The fashioning marks adjacent opposite sides of the panty are indicated at 27 and 28 in FIGURES 5 and 6. After the sides of the front and rear panels are seamed together, an elastic band 29 may be stitched around the upper end of the panty and elastic bands 25a and 26a may be stitched around the respective leg openings 25 and 26.

During the knitting operation, the machine is adjusted to draw greatly elongated stitch loops and form an oversized garment blank, from which the oversized panty is formed, as illustrated in FIGURE 5. It is to be noted that no special attachments are required to knit the panty blank and the usual widening and narrowing operations are performed in the conventional manner.

The oversized panties, as shown in FIGURE 5, are then treated in the same manner and in the same caustic soda solution as described in Example I. This caustic soda treatment swells and shrinks the cotton yarn and also reduces the elongated stitch loops to reduce the size of the panty, as shown in FIGURE 6. The caustic soda solution is then removed by washing the panties and they may then be 'dyed and boarded.

It is preferred that the panty blanks be knit in two sizes and then the resulting elastic panties will stretch to comfortably fit a Wide range of body sizes. Although it is preferred that the elastic bands 29, 25a and 26a be attached to the panties before they are treated in the caustic soda solution, it is to be understood that they could be attached after the shrinking process, if desired.

Example III Referring particularly to FIGURES 7 and 8, there is shown a ladies seamless girdle which is knit of cotton yarn and in generally the manner disclosed in the United States patent to Garrou et al., No. 2,962,884, and issued December 6, 1960. Asis clearly set forth in said Garrou et al. patent, the seamless girdle is fashioned or shaped during knitting so that it generally conforms to the shape of that portion of the body on which it is to be worn.

Generally, the seamless girdle includes a first seamless leg 30, a generally narrowed extension 31, a widened and narrowed front gusset 32 and a similar rear gusset, not shown, a generally widened extension 33, and a second seamless leg 34. The lower portions of the inner edges of the extensions 31 and 33 are joined together along a suture line 35 and their upper portions are joined to the opposite edges of the front gusset along respective suture lines 36 and 37.

The various portions of the seamless girdle are joined together during the knitting operation and the upper end of the girdle blank is then slit to form a waist opening in the manner clearly set forth in said Garrou et al. patent. However, in the present instance, the girdle is knit throughout of a 30/1 Supima cotton yarn having the standard soft knitting twist and the stitch loops are drawn much longer or larger than the normal size stitch loops to produce an oversized garment blank, from which the oversized girdle is formed, as illustrated.

Upon completion of the knitting of the oversized girdle blank, the waist opening is formed by slitting the upper portion and then sewing an elastic band 38 thereto. It is preferred that the lower ends of the legs 30 and 34 have turned hems that are formed during the knitting operation.

The oversized girdles, as shown in FIGURE 7, are then treated in the same manner and in the same caustic soda 6 solution as described in Example I. This caustic soda treatment swells and shrinks the cotton yarn and also reduces the elongated stitch loops to reduce the size of the girdle, as shown in FIGURE 8. The caustic soda solution is then removed by washing the girdles and they may then be dyed and boarded.

It is preferred that the seamless girdle blanks be knit in two sizes and then the resulting elastic girdles will stretch to comfortably fit a wide range of body sizes. Although it the preferred that the elastic band 38 be attached to the girdles before they are treated in the caustic soda solution, it is to be understood that it could be attached after the shrinking process, if desired.

Both the full-fashioned panty described in Example II and the seamless girdle described in Example III are initially knit approximately 60% larger than their size after the shrinking takes place in the caustic soda solution. However, this is dependent upon the amount of shrinkage which takes place in a particular caustic soda treatment and the size of the knit garment may be varied so that the shrunk garment will be the desired size. While yarn formed entirely of cotton fibers is described in each of the examples, it is to be understood that small percentages of other types of fibers may be blended with the cotton fibers before the yarn is formed.

Although a half-hose type stocking is disclosed, it is to be understood that other types of stockings are also included in the present invention. A large number of dif ferent sizes of cotton yarns having varying amounts of twist are required to knit all the various types of stockings for children, ladies and men. For example, sizes of cotton yarns used in knitting hosiery are from about 4/ 1 to 40/1 and from about 10/2 to /2, the twist ranging from about 10 to 20 turns per inch. The cotton yarn used to form the elastic knitted garments of the present invention may be combed, carded or mercerized yarns which may be either dyed or undyed.

Each of the garments described has been found to have a maximum stretchability of about 45%. However, the amount of stretchability is at least in part dependent upon the amount that the garments are shrunk by the caustic soda solution and therefore the amount of stretchability can also be varied by making the desired changes in the caustic soda treatment. It is preferred that the stretchability of the elastic knitted garments be within the range of about 25 to 45 In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A method of producing a knitted elastic garment shaped to generally conform to the configuration of that portion of the body on which the garment is to be worn and having the appearance of a conventional non-elastic garment having normal size stitches, said method comprising the steps of (a) knitting a yarn consisting mainly of caustic shrinkable cellulose while forming a fabric having longer than normal stitch loops into an oversized blank, and

(12) forming the blank into the desired elastic garment by seaming the blank and treating the knitted fabric with a caustic solution while in untensioned state to shrink the stitch loops to normal size and to impart a high degree of stretchability and recoverability to shrunken fabric to thereby provide an elastic garment properly fitting several body sizes.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the knitted fabric is treated with about 16% caustic solution.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the knitted stitch loops before treating are about 25 to 60% longer than normal stitch loops.

4. A method of producing a knitted elastic stocking shaped to generally conform to the configuration of the human foot and leg on which the stocking is to be worn and having the appearance of a conventional non-elastic stocking having normal size stitches, said method comprising the steps of (a) knitting a yarn consisting mainly of caustic shrinkable cellulose while forming a fabric having longer than normal stitch loops into an oversized stocking blank having heel and toe pockets therein, and

(12) forming the stocking blank into the desired elastic stocking by seaming the blank and treating the knitted fabric with a caustic solution while in untensioned state to shrink the stitch loops to normal size and to impart a high degree of stretchability and recoverability to the shrunken fabric to thereby provide an elastic stocking properly fitting several sizes. 7 5. A method of producing a knitted elastic full-fashioned panty shaped to generally conform to the configuration of that portion of the body on which the panty is to be worn and having the appearance of a conventional non-elastic panty having normal size stitches, said method comprising the steps of (a) knitting a yarn consisting mainly of caustic shrinkable cellulose while forming a fabric having longer than normal stitch loops into an oversized panty blank having fashioned front and rear panels, and

(b) forming the panty blank into the desired elastic panty by seaming the front and rear panels together and treating the knitted fabric with a caustic solution while in untensioned state to shrink the stitch loops to normal size and to impart a high degree of stretchability and recoverability to the shrunken fabric to thereby provide an elastic panty properly fitting several body sizes.

6. A method of producing a knitted elastic seamless girdle shaped to generally conform to the configuration of that portion of the body on which the girdle is to be worn and having the appearance of a conventional nonelastic girdle having normal size stitches, said method comprising the steps of (a) knitting a yarn consisting mainly of caustic shrinkable cellulose while forming a fabric having longer than normal stitch loops into an oversized girdle blank having seamless legs and fashioned front and rear panels, and

(b) forming the girdle blank into the desired elastic girdle by slitting the blank between the front and rear panels to form a Waist opening and treating the knitted fabric with a caustic solution while in untensioned state to shrink the stitch loops to normal size and to impart a high degree of stretchability and recoverability to the shrunken fabric to thereby provide an elastic girdle properly fitting several body sizes.

7. A method of producing a knitted elastic garment shaped to generally conform to the configuration of that portion of the body on which the garment is to be worn and having the appearance of a conventional non-elastic garment having normal size stitches, said method comprising the steps of (a) knitting a yarn consisting mainly of caustic shrinkable cellulose while forming a fabric having longer than normal stitch loops into an oversized blank,

(b) forming the oversized blank into an oversized garment, and

(c) treating the oversized garment with a caustic solution while in untensioned state to shrink the stitch loops to normal size and to impart a high degree of stretchability and recoverability to the shrunken garment to thereby provide an elastic garment properly fitting several body sizes.

8. A knitted stocking having the overall appearance of a conventional non-elastic cotton stocking and being charactcrized by being elastic and having suificient stretcha- 5% bility and recoverability to properly fit several foot sizes heretofore requiring cotton stockings of different sizes, said stocking comprising ((1) courses in at least the leg and foot portions of the stocking being originally knit of abnormally large stitch loops of a yarn consisting essentially and mainly of cotton,

([1) said yarn as originally knit being a conventional non-elastic yarn of the type normally used in cotton stockings,

(c) said yarn in the abnormally large knit stitch loops being shrunk, and said stitch loops being shrunk and of normal size, and

(d) said shrunken yarn and stitch loops imparting to the stocking the aforesaid stretchability and recoverability characteristics.

9. A knitted stocking having the overall appearance of a conventional non-elastic cotton stocking and being characterized by being elastic and having suflicient stretchability and recoverability to properly fit several foot sizes heretofore requiring cotton stockings of different sizes, said stocking comprising (:1) courses in at least the leg and foot portions of the stocking being originally knit of abnormally large stitch loops of a yarn consisting essentially and mainly of cotton,

(b) said yarn as originally knit being a conventional non-elastic yarn of the type normally used in cotton stockings,

(c) said yarn in the abnormally large knit stitch loops being shrunk, and said stitch loops being shrunk and of normal size, and

(d) said shrunken yarn and stitch loops imparting to the stocking 25 to 45% stretchability and the aforesaid recoverability characteristics.

10. A knitted stocking having the overall appearance of a conventional non-elastic cotton stocking and being characterized by being elastic and having sufficient stretchability and recoverability to properly fit several foot sizes heretofore requiring cotton stockings of different sizes, said stocking comprising (a) courses in at least the leg and foot portions of the stocking being originally knit of abnormally large stitch loops drawn oversize by an amount within the range of about 25 to 60%, the abnormally large stitch loops being knit of a yarn consisting essentially and mainly of cotton,

(b) said yarn as originally knit being a conventional non-elastic yarn of the type normally used in cotton stockings,

(c) said yarn in the abnormally large knit stitch loops being shrunk, and said stitch loops being shrunk and of normal size, and

(d) said shrunken yarn and stitch loops imparting to the stocking the aforesaid stretchability and recoverability characteristics.

11. A knitted cotton stocking having the overall appearance of a conventional non-elastic cotton stocking and being characterized by being elastic and having sufficient stretchability and recoverability to properly fit several foot sizes heretofore requiring cotton stockings of different sizes, said stocking comprising (a) courses in at least the leg and foot portions of the stocking being originally knit of abnormally large stitch loops. of a yarn formed entirely of cotton fibers,

(b) said yarn as originally knit being a conventional cotton yarn of the type normally used in cotton stockings,

(c) said yarn in the abnormally large knit stitch loops being shrunk, and said stitch loops being shrunk and of normal size, and

(d) said shrunken yarn and stitch loops imparting to the stocking the aforesaid stretchability and recoverability characteristics.

12. A knitted article shaped to generally conform to the configuration of that portion of the body on which the article is to be worn, and having the overall appearance of a conventional non-elastic knitted article and being characterized by being elastic and having sufiicient stretchability and recoverability to properly fit several body sizes heretofore requiring articles of ditferent sizes, said knitted article comprising (a) courses in at least the body portion of the article originally knit of abnormally large stitch loops of a yarn consisting essentially and mainly of cellulosic fibers,

(b) said yarn as originally knit being a conventional non-elastic yarn of the type normally used in nonelastic articles of this type,

(c) said yarn in the abnormally large knit stitch loops being shrunk, and said stitch loops being shrunk and of normal size, and

(d) said shrunken yarn and stitch loops imparting to the article the aforesaid stretchability and recoverability characteristics.

13. A knitted article shaped to generally conform to the configuration of that portion of the body on which the article is to be Worn, and having the overall appearance of a conventional non-elastic knitted article and being characterized by being elastic and having suflicient stretchability and recoverability to properly fit several body sizes heretofore requiring articles of ditferent sizes, said knitted article comprising (a) courses in at least the body portion of the article originally knit of abnormally large stitch loops of a yarn consisting essentially and mainly of cellulosic fibers,

(b) said yarn as originally knit being a conventional non-elastic yarn of the type normally used in nonelastlc articles of this type,

(c) said yarn in the abnormally large knit stitch loops being shrunk, and said stitch loops being shrunk and of normal size, and

(d) said shrunken yarn and stitch loops importing to the article 25 to 45% stretchability and the aforesaid recoverability characteristics,

14. A knitted article shaped to generally conform to the configuration of that portion of the body on which the article is to be worn, and having the overall appearance of a conventional non-elastic knitted article and being characterized by being elastic and having suificient stretchability and recoverability to properly fit several body sizes heretofore requiring articles of dilferent sizes, said knitted article comprising (a) courses in at least the body portion of the article originally knit of abnormally large stitch loops drawn oversize by an amount Within the range of about 25 to 60%, the abnormally large stitch loops being knit of a yarn consisting essentially and mainly of cellulosic fibers,

(b) said yarn as originally knit being a conventional non-elastic yarn of the type normally used in nonelastic articles of this type,

(c) said yarn in the abnormally large knit stitch loops being shrunk, and said stitch loops being shrunk and of normal size, and

(d) said shrunken yarn and stitch loops imparting to the article the aforesaid stretchability and recoverability characteristics.

15. A knitted cotton article shaped to generally conform to the configuration of that portion of the body on which the article is to be worn, and having the overall appearance of a conventional non-elastic knitted cotton article and being characterized by being elastic and having sufficient stretchability and recoverability to properly fit several body sizes heretofore requiring cotton articles of different sizes, said knitted article comprising (a) courses in at least the body portion of the article originally knit of abnormally large stitch loops of a: yarn formed entirely of cotton,

(b) said cotton yarn as originally knit being a conven-- tional non-elastic cotton yarn of the type normally used in non-elastic cotton articles of this type,

(c) said yarn in the abnormally large knit stitch loops being shrunk, and said stitch loops being shrunk and of normal size, and

(d) said shrunken yarn and stitch loops imparting to the article the aforesaid stretchability and recoverability characteristics.

16. A knitted full-fashioned panty having a body portion including interconnected front and rear panels and leg openings therein, said panty shaped to generally conform to the configuration of that portion of the body on which the panty is to be worn, and having the overall appearance of a conventional non-elastic knitted panty and being characterized by being elastic and having suflicient stretchability and recoverability to properly fit several body sizes heretofore requiring panties of different sizes, said knitted panty comprising (a) courses in at least the body portion of the panty originally knit of abnormally large stitch loops of a yarn consisting essentially and mainly of cellulosic fibers,

(b) said yarn as originally knit being a conventional non-elastic yarn of the type normally used in nonelastic panties of this type,

(c) said yarn in the abnormally large knit stitch loops being shrunk, and said stitch loops being shrunk and of normal size, and

(d) said shrunken stitch loops imparting to the panty the aforesaid stretchability and recoverability characteristics.

17. In a full-fashioned panty according to claim 16 wherein the knit stitch loops are initially drawn oversize by an amount within the range of about 25 to 60% and the shrunken panty is stretchable within the range of about 25 to 45 18. A knitted seamless girdle having a body portion in cluding a pair of seamless tubular legs, a tapered extention knit integral with and extending from each leg, and gusset panels knit integral with and connecting the extensions of each leg, said girdle shaped to generally conform to the configuration of that portion of the body on which the girdle is to be Worn, and having the overall appearance of a conventional non-elastic knitted girdle and being characterized by being elastic and having sufiicient stretchability and recoverability to properly fit several body sizes heretofore requiring articles of different sizes, said knitted girdle comprising (a) courses in at least the body portion of the girdle originally knit of abnormally large stitch loops of a yarn consisting essentially and mainly of cellulosic fibers,

(b) said yarn as originally knit being a conventional non-elastic yarn of the type normally used in nonelastic girdles of this type,

(c) said yarn in the abnormally large knit stitch loops being shrunk, and said stitch loops being shrunk and of normal size, and

(d) said shrunken stitch loops imparting to the girdle the aforesaid stretchability and recoverability characteristics.

19. In a girdle according to claim 18 wherein the knit stitch loops are initially drawn oversize by an amount Within the range of about 25 to 60% and the shrunken girdle is stretchable within the range of about 25 to 45%.

20. A method of forming a knitted garment shaped to generally conform to the configuration of that portion of the body on which the garment is to be worn, and having the overall appearance of a conventional non-elastic knitted garment and being characterized by being elastic and having sufiicient stretchability and recoverability to properly fit several body sizes heretofore requiring gar- 1 1 ments of different sizes, said method comprising the steps of (a) knitting a yarn of the type normally used in nonelastic garments of this type and consisting essen tially and mainly of cellulosic fibers, while forming a fabric having courses of abnormally large stitch loops and While forming an oversized blank, and (12) forming the blank into the desired elastic garment by seaming the blank and shrinking the knitted fabric to shrink the abnormally large stitch loops 10 650,376 Donner May 29, 1900 12 2,126,809 Pratt Aug. 16, 1938 2,165,520 Struve July 11, 1939 2,379,574 Goldthwait July 3, 1945 2,837,904 Scriggins June 10, 1958 3,043,123 Goodman July 10, 1962 3,090,666 Jones May 21, 1963 OTHER REFERENCES Goldthwait et al.: Special Elastic Properties of Cotton Yarn and Cloth Mercerized Without Tension; Textile Research Journal, pp. 47-57, January 1955. (Copy in 28/76.)

Reeves: Stretch Cottons; Textile Recorder, May 1963. Sloan et al.: Stretchable Cotton FabricsProperties 5 and Processing Techniques; American Dyestuff Reporter 52, N0. 11, pp. 2633, May 17, 1963.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 132,497 May 12 1964 Victor Hg Garrou It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line l3 for "substantially" read substantial column 3 line 16 for "followng" read following line 35 for feeder read feed line 59, for "hte" read the column 5 line 1O for "the", first occurrence read is line 69, before "shrunken" insert the column 10, lines 41 and 42,, for "'extention" read extension Signed and sealed this 8th day of September 19640 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER' EDWARD J, BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A METHOD OF PRODUCING A KNITTED ELASTIC GARMENT SHAPED TO GENERALLY CONFORM TO THE CONFIGURATION OF THAT PORTION OF THE BODY ON WHICH THE GARMENT IS TO BE WORN AND HAVING THE APPEARANCE OF A CONVENTIONAL NON-ELASTIC GARMENT HAVING NORMAL SIZE STITCHES, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF (A) KNITTING A YARN CONSISTING MAINLY OF CAUSTIC SHRINKABLE CELLULOSE WHILE FORMING A FABRIC HAVING LONGER THAN NORMAL STITCH LOOPS INTO AN OVERSIZED BLANK, AND (B) FORMING THE BLANK INTO THE DESIRED ELASTIC GARMENT BY SEAMING THE BLANK AND TREATING THE KNITTED FABRIC WITH A CAUSTIC SOLUTION WHILE IN UNTENSIONED STATE TO SHRINK THE STITCH LOOPS TO NORMAL SIZE AND TO IMPART A HIGH DEGREE OF STRETCHABILITY AND RECOVERABILITY TO SHRUNKEN FABRIC TO THEREBY PROVIDE AN ELASTIC GARMENT PROPERLY FITTING SEVERAL BODY SIZES. 